UTSA’s Jason Marshall: ‘We never gave up’

UTSA stayed composed and competitive and eventually pulled out a dramatic, 14-inning victory, a 3-2 decision over Sacramento State on Wednesday in the opener of the Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament.

RJ Perucki supplied most of the drama with a walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the 14th at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie.

“I just appreciate the fact that we never gave up,” UTSA coach Jason Marshall said in a video posted on the WAC website. “We got the big home run there and we got an outstanding job by (pitchers) Brock Hartson and Matt Sims.”

Hartson started and limited the Hornets to two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings. Sims (5-2) closed the final 6 2/3 innings with three-hit shutout relief. It was the longest game by innings in WAC postseason history.

“They just continued to throw strikes and we made no errors,” Marshall said. “We played 14 innings of errorless ball. So, we made them earn everything. And, likewise, they made us earn it. We got the big home run.”

Perucki said he knew the ball he hit off Brandon Creel (8-4) would clear the left field wall.

“Off the bat I knew it was gone,” he said. “It was one of the best balls to come off my bat all season.”

Just after UTSA pulled out the victory, another Pool A game between CSU Bakersfield and San Jose State commenced.

Bakersfield, the WAC’s regular season co-champions, beat San Jose State 11-3.

Pool A games on Thursday include UTSA (32-23) against San Jose State (17-39) at 3 p.m. and then CSU Bakersfield (36-21) against Sacramento State (33-24) at 7. UTSA and Bakersfield are scheduled to play on Friday at 7.

The winner of the pool advances to the title game on Sunday afternoon.

The Roadrunners have won seven of their past eight games, including a 7-0 streak against WAC opponents, so in riding a wave of emotion and momentum they could be dangerous over the next few days.

At the same time, pitching depth could become a factor. Only last week, UTSA lost middle relief ace Jordan Pacheco for the season for unspecified personal reasons.

It means that UTSA will be looking for a quality start from junior Michael Kraft against San Jose State to eat up some innings.

Marshall hasn’t named a starter for Friday’s game, but freshman Nolan Trabanino has been the third man in the rotation.

Against Sacramento State, Perucki and Jesse Baker both came up big in the clutch for a UTSA offense lacking punch most of the day.

Perucki, a junior, hit his team-high 11th home run of the season and his second since May 12. Baker, a freshman, went 3 for 5 and hit a solo home run in the seventh.

Baker also had a hand in a big defensive play in the 11th.

Sacramento State had the bases loaded and one out against Sims when Dane Fujinaka hit a ground ball to second. Baker turned it into a double play to end the threat.